Unless you’ve been out of town for the past six weeks, you’re probably aware of the new blue bikes located around the city. Citi Bike finally launched after what seemed like dozens of delays and false hopes. We wanted to wait until things had been up and running for a bit before blogging and now that the hullabaloo has died down, it seems a fair time to assess the program.

For those of you not sold on the idea, we present a list of positives and negatives. Decide for yourself and feel free to add your thoughts in the comment section!

Pros:

Locations throughout Manhattan are convenient and widespread.

Bikes are sturdy and in excellent condition.

Bikes have amenities like baskets and lights.

Cons:

Not enough stations in Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx.

Also, it seems that many riders are biking without helmets (protect your heads, people!).

Some users say the bikes are a little slow.

Citi Bike

If you’ve been reluctant to try biking in the city, the Citi Bikes provide a great opportunity to test it out and see for yourself how liberating riding can be. No more sweltering subway platforms! No more waiting on buses that never seem to come on schedule. In addition, Citi Bike is partnering with Bike New York to offer free classes to help educate people on urban bicycling skills. Have you tried out the bike share program?

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The opinions expressed here are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.

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